"The Charbor Chronicles": Super Bowl XXXVIII Memories

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Super Bowl XXXVIII – New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29. Played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas. MVP Tom Brady. Favorite Patriots by 7. National anthem Beyonce Knowles, Halftime show Spirit of Houston, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, OutKast, P. Diddy, Kid Rock, and Nelly. Attendance 71,525. Network CBS. Announcers Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms. Nielsen ratings 41.3. est. 89.8 million viewers. Market share 63. Cost of 30-second commercial US $2.2 million. Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake wardrobe malfunction DVD. Jake Delhomme 16/33 323 3 0, Mushin Muhammad 4 140 1, Tom Brady 32/48 354 3 1, Deion Branch 10 143 1.

This was an excellent Super Bowl, yet few people seem to remember it as such. Perhaps that is because it was overshadowed by something that happened on the field that had nothing to do with football, with Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction," when Justin Timberlake ripped off the covering over her breast (her nipple was covered, although it still caused a tremendous scandal). Or, perhaps it is overshadowed because it involved the New England Patriots, the team that most football fans now seem to be sick of, and many accuse of cheating. Or, perhaps, it is just that there have been other exciting Super Bowls since that kind of cast this particular Super Bowl in the shadows.

Whatever it is, this was a remarkably entertaining Super Bowl. It had a little of everything. If you liked tough, defensive football, than you could enjoy the majority of the first half, which remained scoreless until fairly late in that first half. After a small explosion of points by both teams late in the second quarter, things returned to a defensive gridlock in the third quarter. But if you like offensive shootouts, then the end of the second quarter, and all of the fourth quarter, was for you, as both teams came up with some incredible plays in what was truly some explosive and brilliant football.

The New England Patriots were emerging as a dynasty, as they won three second Super Bowl in three seasons. After getting blown out, 31-0, at Buffalo in week one, and then losing to Washington in week four, the Pats stood at 2-2, and looked decidedly mediocre. That was when they went on a tear, running the tables with 12 straight wins to end the season at 14-2, earning home field advantage. They defeated the Tennessee Titans by a field goal in the divisional round, then met the Indianapolis Colts, in what would be the first of five playoff meeting between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning (three while Manning played for the Colts, two while Manning played for Denver). The Patriots beat the Colts soundly, and then survived the huge Super Bowl challenge that the upstart Panthers provided. Couple that with their 6-0 start the following season, and you have that historic 21-game winning streak, which remains the NFL record.

Personal Memories: This was the first of ten straight Super Bowls that I would watch while working at my weekend job at Prudential. The Iraq war was well under way, although by now, a lot more people were realizing that it had been a pretty huge mistake. George W. Bush's popularity stagnated, although his approval ratings never actually dipped far enough to give Democratic challenger John F. Kerry a chance at the White House, and Bush got a second term. Spain had it's own version of 9/11, as terrorist attacks on 4 trains more or less simultaneously shook the country.

http://www.infoplease.com/year/2004.html

Here are some of the major events that took place in 2004, the year this Super Bowl was played. The world's population was 6.4 billion people. About one third of Iran’s Parliament steps down to protest hard-line Guardian Council’s banning of more than 2,000 reformists from running in parliamentary elections (Feb. 1). A. Q. Khan, founder of Pakistan's nuclear program, admits he sold nuclear-weapons designs to other countries, including North Korea, Iran, and Libya (Feb. 4). Armed rebels in Haiti force President Aristide to resign and flee the country (Feb. 29). Spain is rocked by terrorist attacks, killing more than 200. Al Qaeda takes responsibility (March 11). Spain's governing Popular Party loses election to opposition Socialists. Outcome seen as a reaction to terrorist attacks days before and Popular Party's support of the U.S.-led war in Iraq (March 14). North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formally admits 7 new countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia (March 29). Israeli prime minister Sharon announces plan to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza Strip (April 12). Greek Cypriots reject UN reunification plan with Turkish Cypriots (April 24). Sudan rebels (SPLA) and government reach accord to end 21-year civil war. However, separate war in western Darfur region between Arab militias and black Africans continues unabated (May 26). U.S. troops launch offensive in Falluja in response to killing and mutilation on March 31 of four U.S. civilian contractors. (April 5–May 1). U.S. hands over power to Iraqi interim government; Iyad Allawi becomes prime minister (June 28). Security Council demands Sudanese government disarm militias in Darfur that are massacring civilians (July 30). Summer Olympics take place in Athens, Greece (Aug. 13–29). Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez survives recall referendum (Aug. 16). Chechen terrorists take about 1,200 schoolchildren and others hostage in Beslan, Russia; 340 people die when militant detonate explosives (Sept. 1–3). UN Atomic Energy Agency tells Iran to stop enriching uranium; a nascent nuclear weapons program suspected (Sept. 18). About 380 tons of explosives reported missing in Iraq (Oct. 25). Yasir Arafat dies in Paris (Nov. 11). U.S. troops launch attack on Falluja, stronghold of the Iraqi insurgency (Nov. 8). Ukraine presidential election declared fraudulent (Nov. 21). Hamid Karzai inaugurated as Afghanistan's first popularly elected president (Dec. 7). Massive protests by supporters of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko's lead to a new Ukrainian election; Yushchenko eventually declared prime minister (Dec. 26). Enormous tsunami devastates Asia; 200,000 killed (Dec. 26).

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